Board of Directors

Terra brings a distinguished 25-year career in public service to her role with the California 9/11 Memorial. Starting her career in Washington, D.C. working for the U.S. House of Representatives on Capitol Hill, Terra later returned to her native San Joaquin Valley and founded The Central Valley Group in 2012. She has utilized her proven experience as a connector to help elect several key local, state and federal officials and raise millions for area charities. She was appointed by Mayor Lee Brand to serve as a commissioner of the Fresno City & County Housing Authority, and serves on the Marjaree Mason Center Volunteer Board and the San Joaquin Political Academy Board of Directors. Terra has served on the Alumni Board for the University of the Pacific and in 2017 participated in the Man and Woman of the Year Campaign for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Part of the Pelco organization since 2000, Julie has a long history with the California 9/11 Memorial. Immediately following the tragic events of September 11, Julie was on the project team responsible for bringing over 1,000 first responders from New York to the Valley for the California 9/11 Memorial dedication ceremony on December 8, 2001. The participants appreciated having time away from New York while the local community showed them honor and gratitude – starting a tradition that continues annually to this day. Julie worked with Schneider Electric for over two decades and remains one of the last remaining participants who has been with the program since its inception. In addition to serving as President of the Board for the California 9/11 Memorial, she has served on numerous community boards including the Clovis Chamber of Commerce, the American Red Cross and, currently, as Board President of the Fresno County Office of Education Foundation. Originally from Sacramento, Julie has established strong roots in the Clovis community after marrying a longtime Clovis native. She and her husband, Steve, have five children and eleven grandchildren, and when the Valley temperatures rise, you’ll find her spending time in Shaver Lake with family and friends.

Heather has proudly spent most of her life in the Clovis/Fresno community. A graduate of California State University, Fresno, she worked with Pelco and Schneider Electric in marketing for more than fifteen years. For the past decade, Heather has served on the 9/11 Committee, taking the lead on communication and logistics, and dedicating her time and passion to helping organize the annual September 11th Memorial Ceremony. In addition to serving as the California 9/11 Memorial Vice President, working full-time and being a wife and mother of two, Heather has volunteered and supported many nonprofit organizations, including Toys for Tots, Mission 500, FCOE Special Education Kids Day, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the American Red Cross.

Dr. Lisa Benham Lewis is a Director at Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, where she conducts research and coordinates teacher professional learning for the Expository Ready and Writing Curriculum (ERWC). Her thirty-three years of experience in education include being a teacher, school principal, district administrator and county administrator. She serves as a coach, curriculum developer, workshop leader, steering committee member for ERWC - a nationally recognized rhetoric-based literacy initiative. Lisa organizes the 9/11 Art, Poetry, and Logo Contest for the 7th-12th grade students of Fresno County. She is a native of Clovis who earned her Ed.D. in Leadership from the University of LaVerne. She earned a Bachelors and a Master’s degree at California State University of Fresno. While at Fresno State, Lisa competed on the horse show team, winning numerous National Intercollegiate Championships. Lisa is passionate about her family, friends, and her community. Lisa also founded and continues to run the Fresno County Pink Heals Chapter with her husband Matt Lewis.

With strong family military ties, Aubrey recalls being in high school for the tragic events of 9/11. She attended California State University, Fresno, where she was involved in campus philanthropic organizations through Beta Alpha Psi, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and the United Way. Earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting led Aubrey to her current career with Baerg & Associates CPAs, LLP.  She became a founding member of the California 9/11 Memorial, and was instrumental in obtaining the nonprofit’s 501(c)(3) federal tax exemption. Now a wife and mother, Aubrey believes her position as Board Treasurer is valuable in keeping financial organization while also educating generations of youth on the significance of the tragic events. 

A founding member of the nonprofit California 9/11 Memorial organization, Todd has a long legacy of philanthropic activities in the Clovis and Fresno communities. He is a member of the Marjaree Mason Center Board, active in the Clovis Unified School Foundation and heavily involved with CART, the Center for Advanced Research and Technology. Additionally, Todd participates in Clovis Exchange Club, Clovis General Plan Update Committee, W.O.W. Fresno and the Miss Clovis scholarship program.

Representing the fifth generation of the Cook family to hail from Clovis, Jerry graduated from Clovis High School, received his bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of the Pacific, and earned his MBA with honors from Pepperdine University. He was married for 32 years to his late wife, Suzanne, and has two married sons and three grandchildren. As a commissioned officer in the Army National Guard, Jerry retired as Captain in 1976. He then began as President and first employee of Grundfos Pumps Corporation, retiring after 23 years while continuing to serve on the board until 2019. He also served as director on the boards of Premier Valley Bank and Rain for Rent, International, and additionally served on ten family-owned or closely held private boards over the last 25 years, often as chair. Currently, Jerry serves on the boards of Raley’s Grocery Stores and Community Medical Systems of Central California. As founding Board Chair of CART: Center for Advanced Research and Technology, the Fresno Economic Development Corporation and the Foundation for Clovis Schools, Jerry received an Honorary Doctorate of Community Service from Clovis Unified Schools, Citizen of the Year for the City of Clovis, Pepperdine University Outstanding Alumnus, and received the first annual Raley’s Legacy Award. He is currently President and partner in his family-owned business, Cook Land Company. Undoubtedly one of his greatest passions, Jerry established the California 9/11 Memorial Board Foundation for one clear purpose: to Honor, Educate and Remember.

Originally from Reedley, Randi is a founding Board member for the California 9/11 Memorial and has been instrumental in the planning of the annual ceremony since 2019. As the Portfolio and Acquisitions Manager for Cook Land Development, Randi has been heavily involved in the California Memorial expansion project, is Co-Chair of the Publicity Committee and works with the Logistics Committee for the California 9/11 Memorial. Randi is passionate about educating the community and today’s youth on the tragic events of September 11. In addition to being a mom to her active14-year old son, she has also obtained her real estate license.

Active in the construction industry since 1980 and a general contractor since 1989, Reno is Chief Operating Officer at Cook Land Development, where he provides a full range of services for the design and construction of commercial, retail and industrial projects. As a member of Central California Builders Exchange and the National Kitchen and Bath Association, with extensive experience as a tradesman, superintendent and project manager, Reno brings experience and expertise to the California 9/11 Memorial expansion project. His vision and passion for the Memorial is reflected in the incredible detail evident in every element. Reno has served on several youth group boards and joins the California 9/11 Memorial as a founding member.

Brittany Cook began as a California 9-11 Memorial volunteer and officially joined the board in 2021. She is an alumni of Fresno State University, having earned degrees in Political Science and Mass Communication/Journalism with an emphasis in Advertising. Brittany is a black belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and owns a successful martial arts academy in the Fresno area. Her community service endeavors include the Intercultural Diversity and Advisory Council for Clovis Unified School District, the School Site Council at CNEC, and the Board of Directors for the First Tee-Fresno. Brittany is also a wife, and a mother to a teenage son. As the daughter of a retired correctional officer and retired educator, Brittany is passionate about the California 9-11 Memorial’s mission to make sure today’s students never forget the events of 9/11.

Jim has been involved with the California 9/11 Memorial since its inception in 2001, and is a founding Board member. He served eight years in the United States Marine Corps from 1965 to 1973, including a tour in Viet Nam in 1967 and 1968. He then served with the Fresno Police Department for 30 years, from 1977 to 2007, where he was instrumental in forming the Fresno Police Department Honor Guard & Color Guard. Jim also played a key role in forming the Fresno County Peace Officers Memorial Foundation, of which he has been President since 2003. The memorial broke ground in 1998 in the Fresno County Courthouse Park and honors those law enforcement officers that paid the ultimate sacrifice protecting the citizens of Fresno County. Now serving as Senior District Attorney Investigator with the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, Jim’s assignments have included the Multi Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (M.A.G.E.C.) and the Juvenile Crimes Unit. He is currently assigned to the Fresno County Health Department with the Environmental Health Unit. He and his wife have two children, one of which is a detective with the Fresno Police Department. Of their four grandsons, one served over 4 years with the Marine Corps, and another has recently joined the Marines after participating in his school’s ROTC program.

Captain Stemler is a California 9/11 Memorial founding Board member who has played a vital leadership role in the annual memorial since its inception in 2001. Originally from Galt, Captain Stemler spent four years in the United States Air Force before moving to the Fresno/Clovis area where he spent a combined 37 years with the fire service, most of which with the Clovis Fire Department where he retired as Captain. On September 11, 2001, Captain Stemler oversaw the Clovis Fire Department Honor Guard and was asked to bring together all public safety and military agencies to establish a combined command. Notably, it was the first time all service agencies had come together and coordinated for such a monumental effort, and has remained a tradition for over two decades. Captain Stemler is a certified fire investigator and the owner of Stemler Fire Investigations. He is the proud father of six daughters and grandfather of three.

Andy is a former New York City firefighter who can be counted among the brave heroes who answered the call on September 11. He grew up in Long Island, NY, and worked in advertising until he found his calling with the FDNY. For 11 years, Andy served with Ladder 108 in Brooklyn, from which he responded on 9/11. After months working at Ground Zero, he was invited – along with over 1,000 other first responders – to Clovis for the California 9/11 Memorial dedication, which would ultimately become the annual September 11th Memorial Ceremony. The trip would dramatically change Andy’s life. The small-town unity he experienced restored his faith in humanity and rejuvenated his spirit, after being medically retired due to lung damage he suffered at Ground Zero. In 2004, he made his new home in the Valley, and in 2013 married his wife, Michelle. They are the parents of four children. After serving with the Clovis Fire Department for nine years, Andy now works for the North Central Fire Protection District.

A graduate of California State University, Fresno, Curt earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in Criminology which he put to work in his early career with the Fresno Police Department. He left the department in 2006 and moved to the Clovis Police Department, rising through the ranks to serve as Captain and, ultimately, his current role as Chief of Police. Along the way, he enhanced his expertise with an 18-month program in POST Command College, graduating with specialized knowledge in emerging issues in the industry, forward-strategic thinking and managing the future. Curt proudly serves the California 9/11 Memorial Board as a founding member.

A certified tax law specialist based in Clovis, Jeff operates a statewide practice focused on representation of business entities, trusts and estates, and litigation. He is a 1982 graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law, and in 1983 obtained his LLM Taxation degree from McGeorge School of Law. As the California 9/11 Memorial has grown in size and scope, Jeff has proven to be a tremendous asset to our Board of Directors.

Retired Sergeant Shawn Wills assisted in leading the California Highway Patrol’s Motorcycle Unit and Central Division Air Ops Unit for over 20 years. At the same time, his passion for supporting the California 9/11 Memorial and annual ceremony only grew stronger. In his youth, Shawn was a football and baseball standout at Hanford High School, and went on to play both sports at UCLA. There, he met his wife, Tara. The couple moved back to the Valley to raise their family and became active in a number of community organizations, including Shawn’s involvement with the California 9/11 Memorial. Today, in addition to his leadership on our Board of Directors, Shawn and Tara run their own successful company: Wills Family Real Estate.

McKenzie brings a diverse background to our Board as a Central Valley native, a California State University, Fresno, alumna, the Burn Chair representative for Safe Kids Central Valley and the Camps and Recreation Manager for the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation. The daughter of burn survivor (Fresno Fire Captain, Pete Dern), McKenzie believes that a burn survivor is a symbol of strength and perseverance. It is her passion to ensure that no survivor or their family feels alone through their healing journey. Her strength and drive lend an infectious energy to her role on our Board.

Nick joins the California 9/11 Memorial Board with a wealth of experience serving community organizations. He currently serves on the boards of Cen-Cal Small Business Finance and Pearson Realty, and is Chairman of the Board of the Fresno Economic Development Department. In past community-oriented activities, Nick was a member of the City of Clovis Economic Development Strategy Advisory Committee, the City of Fresno Mayor’s Council on Industrial Development and the Economic Development Department’s task force on High-Speed Rail Relocations. A true community steward, Nick brings vision and insight to the direction of our Board.

Police Lieutenant Guerra has been in law enforcement for more than 20 years, 13 of which with Clovis Police Department.  Lieutenant Guerra is experienced with crisis negotiations, Patrol, K9, Narcotics, Investigations, and has been a Field Training Officer and Recruitment Team & Volunteers Coordinator. 

Patrick Ruth has been a Clovis resident since 1970. He attended Clovis High where he received a Baseball scholarship to play at Fresno State. Patrick was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1991, He is also in the Fresno State and Clovis High Hall of Fame. Patrick has served as a Director for the Foundation of Clovis Schools and the President of the Buchanan Foundation where He and his team organized the very first Military signing day in Clovis Unified history. Patrick is active with Clovis Rotary, Clovis Rodeo Association, VSOs, Cross City Church as well as an elected Board Member of the Clovis Veterans Memorial District. He enjoys spending time at Shaver Lake with friends and family. Patrick and his wife Lorie have two adult boys Dayne and Carson.